The Watcher: Book Three... Farewells - 1. Yoga

The Watcher: Book 3… Farewells

Chapter 1 Yoga

“Whew. That was something.”

Maurice swallowed while concentrating on evening out his breath. “Uh huh,” was all he managed to utter.

“Everything all right?” came from the man at his side, and he felt a slight shift in the mattress as David tossed their cleanup towel onto the floor.

Turning his head, he met grey-eyed scrutiny. “What do you think?”

“Well… I know what I think, but I don’t know about you.”

Maurice frowned as he tried to work out what David was asking. “You can’t tell?” He took a deep, long breath, and continued. “Isn’t it obvious? You just… what are the words… yeah, you goddam rocked my world. Is that what you wanted to know?” He followed up with a smile, because the man really had. No doubt about it.

“I like hearing that, yes, but I was more wondering how you felt about….”

“Eric? Is this about Eric? Being with someone other than him? Are you trying to spoil my high?”

“No… no, sorry, I just wanted to make sure that, you know…."

Sighing, Maurice turned sideways, propping his head up with his hand. “I was just kidding. Nothing could spoil this… unless maybe you told me you didn’t enjoy it,” he said with a confident smirk. There was no way that was the case. “I thought, though, we’d settled all this at lunch?”

David’s head stayed tilted towards him. “About love, yes, but not… this. So, no guilt?”

“No, absolutely not. None. It’s been three years since he died. Why did you think there might be?” He ran his eyes down David’s body, marveling at the lean muscled symmetry. How does an almost sixty-year-old have such a physique?

David shifted onto his side and reached up to Maurice’s cheek, his fingers lightly stroking. “What you said earlier. You told me you don’t sleep with someone you don’t love, and you never have. That means I’m your second lover, right?”

Maurice gripped his wrist, kissing the pulse point. “Yes. So?”

“So, it’s a big deal, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but only because it’s been so long, and I was a little nervous. Not for the reasons you’re worried about.” He peered into that rugged, whiskered face, seeing unabashed love to go with concern, and he counted his blessings. “Okay, look. I never once thought of Eric while we were making love. Not before, not during, or not after. Satisfied?”

The grin said it all. “In every way. You were perfect.”

“Even when I was screaming my head off from the leg cramp?”

“Oh, God… I wasn’t going to bring that up, but that was a highlight and a godsend.” David started chuckling, the deep-sounding rumble making Maurice tingle as he laid his head back down.

“How was me in agony a godsend?”

David’s chuckling turned to laughter. “I believe that was what’s referred to as coitus interruptus. Hell of a way to put the brakes on.” Now he completely lost control, and it was infectious. Both men laid back and laughed hysterically at the memory.

Maurice was not used to being bent like that. It had been about four years, what with Eric’s cancer and a tough final year. When the cramp hit, all thought but the need for relief, disappeared. He now remembered just how hard he’d shoved David away from him. It wasn’t funny at the time, but in retrospect, it was hilarious. How utterly ridiculous must he have looked, limping around with an erection, although that did disappear soon enough. Their first time making love would be forever colored with amusement.

“So, why did you say it was a godsend?” a more together Maurice asked again.

David’s laughter died to a smile, and he raised himself up again. “Because we were about to experience premature ejaculation, and that would have been bloody embarrassing.”

“Oh… really?”

“Yup. Maybe what… ten strokes, and I was about to blow. It caught me by surprise, but when you shoved me off the bed, you saved me.” He chuckled again. “Plus, we got to try another position after I massaged your cramp away.”

“Well, there was no way in hell I was going to put my legs up again,” Maurice said ruefully.

“Hey, I wasn’t complaining. It was just as good a view from behind. Hot as hell. So are you sore at all?”

“My leg?”

David snorted. ”Okay. We’ll go with that for starters.”

“Oh, you meant… yeah, maybe a little. I feel stretched more than anything, but I’m not complaining. You’re a great lover, David. You took good care of this old man.”

Another snort sounded in the room.

“What?”

“Maurice, come on. When I look at you, I don’t see old. I see an incredibly handsome man with a great ass.” He wiggled his still-black eyebrows. “Speaking of which, I knew it looked great in jeans, but naked, I couldn’t believe it. You talk about my six-pack like it’s some miracle, and yet you have a sixty-year old ass that would put most forty-year-olds' to shame. Hey, are you blushing?” David leaned over and kissed him.

Maurice was blushing. Eric had always raved about his ‘bubble butt,’ so it was nice to hear it still had an impact. It was damn hard work keeping his lower body in shape, and with his temperamental arthritis, squats and lunges were an iffy undertaking. Still, he was proud he hadn’t given up.

“You must spend a lot of time in that weight room of yours when I’m not around,” David mumbled as he kissed up the side of Maurice’s neck.

“Not like I used to. My knee aches all the time in the winter so I have to be careful. Are we starting something again?”

“I can’t get enough of you. Sorry.” David pulled back and looked into his eyes. “I’m already addicted to you.”

“You’re not the only one, but give me half an hour, would you?”

“Are you being serious? You could go again?”

“Yeah. Can you?”

“Yes, but I’m a freak that way.”

Maurice shot him a grin. “I’m a freak that way too. Always have been.”

“Damn, I hit the jackpot.”

“I think we both did.” He searched the man’s face and saw sudden depth there. “What?”

“Sammy didn’t have near the drive I had. Twice a week was good for him.” He stopped, appearing conflicted, and Maurice waited. “He used to look after me, though, and he was as good a partner as I could have hoped for. I wouldn’t have traded him for anything while he was alive. I hit the jackpot with him too.”

“I already knew that, but I get the need to say it. What we’ve both had with our partners can’t be diminished, so we need to give ourselves a break. Hey, did you ask me about guilt because you felt some?”

David opened his mouth, and then closed it. Laying his head back down, the side of his face pressed into Maurice’s shoulder. “I’m not feeling guilty about what we just did… or what we’re going to do again….”

Maurice heard the smile in his voice as his fingers ran through David’s salt-and-pepper hair.

“But, maybe I feel some for how strong my feelings have become. I’ve loved you for a long time, even from afar, but this… today… they’ve… I don’t know how to say it. While we were making love, it was almost too much.”

A silence descended, as Maurice thought about what he’d just heard. “Too much?”

David squirmed on the bed, but he settled back into the same position, still not meeting Maurice’s eyes. He sighed. “You know when you move out of a place that holds a lot of memories. The new place is bigger and brighter and exciting, but still you look around the old house, and there’s a wish you could have stayed there forever, even though it’s not a possibility?”

The smallest sob came from the man, and Maurice’s eyes filled in response. He wiped the tears away quickly. He totally understood. “Yeah. I felt that way when we left out first apartment. I loved that place, as hot and cramped as it was. It was so hard to let go. I get it, David. We’re saying goodbye to them, aren’t we? We’re finally doing it.”

“Uh huh. We are.”

“I think it’s time.”

“Yes, it is.” David twisted, and pulled a pensive Maurice closer. “I know Sammy would be happy for me. He would want me to have this. What about you? Are you okay? I didn’t mean to get so heavy after something so wonderful.”

Maurice ran his fingers slowly down David’s spine in what he realized was a possessive gesture his heart dictated. He wouldn’t be letting go of this man. “As long as you are, so am I. I like that we can talk like this. And I always want you to be honest with me about how you feel. I’m learning just what a deep man you are. I like that. I like it a lot.”

“Deep, huh?” A grin appeared, a sexy, playful one. “I was pretty deep a while ago.”

Maurice snickered, feeling the mood change. They’d said their farewells. “Yes, you were. And you will be again, although I won’t guarantee how long I can accommodate you.” He snickered again. “Your presence is challenging.”

“Challenging?”

“Yeah, definitely that. But welcomed.”

“Good.”

Fingers interlaced as both men lay back and stared at the swirled plaster ceiling. The silence this time was peaceful. Maurice felt contented. He’d made a commitment this day, and received one. Life was better than he ever could have imagined at this stage in his life. He was no kid, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t feel like one. Love was love, and it wasn’t only for young people.

“What are you thinking?”

“Happy thoughts.” Maurice answered. “What about you?”

“Same. Am I going to be sleeping here tonight… in your bed?”

“Yes, sleeping alone is no longer an option, right?” Maurice waited for a response. “Right?”

“Oh, right. Sorry. I was thinking.”

“About?”

“Are you attached to this mattress?”

“No. Why?” Maurice sat partway up so he could see David’s face.

“Would you mind if I bought us a new one?” A sheepish look accompanied the request.

“Is this about Eric?”

“No, really it’s not. It’s about us, though. We’re starting something new, for you and me. I changed the mattress in my house a month ago because I thought….”

“Pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you?” Maurice teased.

“Just wanted to be ready,” he responded with another of those sexy ‘David’ grins.

“Relax, okay. We’re laying on a brand new mattress… well, not exactly brand new, but it’s only been used a few times.”

“We are? I didn’t think….”

“I switched my mattress with the one in the spare room a week ago.”

“You did? Oh. Pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you?”

“Completely sure.” He chuckled before laying his head on David’s firm chest. “This is nice. Anything else on your mind?”

“No, don’t think so.”

“That’s not what your dick is saying.” Maurice’s head bobbed from the laughter that bubbled up.

“Yeah, well, he does that a lot. I told you I was a freak.”

“I like freaks.”

“Like?”

“Love… and just one particular one.”

“That’s better. I love having your head there. It’s been a long time. I’m not going to pretend I haven’t had sex with anyone since Sammy died, but I never felt this closeness. I never wanted to until now.”

Maurice raised his head and shifted, resting his chin gently as he looked into sincere grey orbs. “At least this end of you looks sleepy,” he teased. “I see we have a conversation for another day. And, we have lots of other stuff to talk about… logistics and stuff, but it all can wait. The only serious thing I want to talk about is supper.”

“Well, don’t you worry your pretty little head, babe. I have something already planned for that.”

“Good, and I’ll overlook the ‘pretty little head’ thing for now. So… discussion over?”

“If it means we’re moving on to sex, then yeah, definitely.”

“That’s what it means. But shower first.”

“For sure. Oh… one more thing. Yoga.”

“Yoga? You want to do yoga?”

David laughed. “Not now. I’m talking about us going to yoga so you can do a workout without stressing your knee or aggravating your arthritis. I’ve done it for years, more often in the winter, and I’m pretty sure it can help. It will keep us more flexible for sure, and should prevent things like cramps.”

“Oh, so you just want to be able to put me in any position you want without the threat of getting kicked off the bed,” Maurice said with humor.

“There is that, yes,” David agreed, grinning. “But mostly, I just want to take care of you. Weight training is probably not the best way to work your lower body anymore. I’m just saying we could give it a try if you want. Now that we’ve found each other, I want us to have a lot of healthy years together.”

“Sounds good to me… and I want that too. Eric and I went to a class once, but we laughed the whole time, and never went back. We were just overgrown kids that day.”

“You guys were like overgrown kids the day I met you, after that AIDS walk.” His fingers slid up Maurice’s arm, causing all the hairs to stand up. “So anyway, there’s a place within walking distance, and I guarantee it will keep you fit without hurting you, and it’s something we can do together.”

“I’m all for things we can do together.” Maurice was still glowing from David expressing how he wanted to take care of him. He believed him, and he welcomed a protector. It wasn’t about roles… it was about love. “Ready to shower?”

David’s answer was to carefully dislodge himself and get up, holding out his hand. “Come on, beautiful. I’ll do some more massaging… make sure that cramp doesn’t come back.”

Maurice took the offered hand and let it pull him up off the bed. His mind flashed to that time at the park, a month ago, when David had first offered his hand. It had been a small gesture that had changed everything.

“Here. Lean on me. You’re limping. I’ve got you.”

Maurice smiled. Yes, this man had him.